New 5 month rescue, advice please

[FollowYourOwnNorthStar]

Hi Everyone,
I’ve not had a cat since being a child and growing up with outside cats, but I’m excited to pick up my 5 month rescue kitten this Friday (I’ll post a photo then!) I’ve met him once, on his 3rd day at the Shelter and he seemed friendly and playful. They said he had only just come out of his shell that day. I left a small blanket I had slept on for them to put in with him, so my scent might get familiar (good idea?? Don’t know).

I plan to put him in my small laundry to start. He will have a furry cube to hide/sleep in and a box with blankets inside and a small opening. Both are supposed to let him have somewhere safe to hide inwhile he gets adjusted.

I have a food area in there too, with two bowls of water, a third for Vet recommended dry food and another for wet food. If I always keep food in the dry one, is it ok to feed him an 85g wet food pouch morning and night, or should I feed a 5 month old kitten more often than this? The food pouches say 3.5 a day for a cat his age, but don’t consider dry food.

I have a kitty litter box, but I have read that some places recommend two. (Or “one for each cat, plus one”, so in this case, two). Should I get another one?

I have some toys for him, and also some other beds and scratching posts etc in the main part of the house, but this is just talking about the first week and introducing him to my house. No other children or animals here.

In the Shelter he is in a 1m x1m x1m cage with two levels. His bed is on top, and his food and open litter box on the lower level. His cage is in a row of 5 and below it is another row of 5, all with cats going in and out (lots of movement). He doesn’t mix with other cats directly, but can hear them He gets dry food (seems to be full all the time) and the litter tray is open (mine has a lid). He will have been there 12 days by the time I rescue him, and he will be recovering from a vet trip of deserving, microchipping, vaccinating, worming etc the day before (all compulsory before the Shelter lets him leave).

Any advice as to our first week together would be gratefully received.

Sorry to clarify - the food pouches say to use 3.5 of them a day for kittens his age, but this is not accounting for any extra dry food. For continuation of his current dry food diet, plus solid stools and health etc, I would like the dry food to be at least 50% of his diet, with wet food the additional.

Does this sound ok?

It sounds like a great set-up. Don't overthink this - cats generally know what they want and have ways of letting you know. With the food, just stick to the recommendations and keep an eye on how much he doesn't eat, and adjust accordingly.

Interacting and playing with your kitten is key to get him socialised. Just be sure not to overstimulate him. At his age he needs plenty of rest periods, but he may not always realise that he is becoming overtired and needs a nap. Just take him back to his den when his batteries appear to be running down.

Thank you. I think I am really overthinking it, but it is hard during this waiting period before they will let me claim him. I really hope we get on!

Do you think I need a second litter tray?

No - one is enough as long as you clean it regularly.

Cats are very fussy with regard to cleanliness, which is a good thing.

(Many men could learn a lot from cats... )

Ha! Thank you for the advice. It seems so odd to be so prepared and just….waiting. But I guess that will all change in a few days when he arrives :)

Feeling very envious!!
A lovely rescue kitten - just enjoy

My life is too complicated these days to have pets, but I foster 'challenging' cats. Usually victims of abuse, scared strays, semi-feral or otherwise neglected moggies. There's a lot of them about, unfortunately. ..